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Introduction To Cryptogams Course 2020-2021

- Cryptogams are defined as lower plants or plant-like organisms that reproduce through spores rather than seeds. They do not have true roots, stems, leaves, flowers or seeds. - Cryptogams are divided into six kingdoms - thallophyta, bryophyta, pteridophyta, fungi, algae, lichens. They range from simple algae to slightly more complex ferns. - Cryptogams have adaptations for reproduction through spores, usually requiring external water. They are generally found in shaded or humid environments unlike phanerogams which bear flowers and seeds.

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318 views

Introduction To Cryptogams Course 2020-2021

- Cryptogams are defined as lower plants or plant-like organisms that reproduce through spores rather than seeds. They do not have true roots, stems, leaves, flowers or seeds. - Cryptogams are divided into six kingdoms - thallophyta, bryophyta, pteridophyta, fungi, algae, lichens. They range from simple algae to slightly more complex ferns. - Cryptogams have adaptations for reproduction through spores, usually requiring external water. They are generally found in shaded or humid environments unlike phanerogams which bear flowers and seeds.

Uploaded by

habumugishajaeanpierre45
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MODULE:

Cryptogams (BIO3166)
Trimester I

Year III Botany students 2020-2021


Biology department

University of Rwanda/CST/Biology Dpt

Instructor: NZARORA Alphonse


What Is a Cryptogam?
• Cryptogams are defined as lower plants or plant-
like organisms that reproduce by spores.
• They don't have the structures we normally
associate with plants, like true stems, roots,
leaves, flowers, or seeds,
• and their reproductive parts are hidden, so we
call them ''plant-like'' organisms.
• They represent the non-seed bearing plants
• Other names such as “Thallophytes”, Lower
plants” and “spores plants” are also occasionally
used
What Is a Cryptogam?...
• Cryptogam as a group are the opposite of the
phanerogam
• Algae, Lichens, Mosses, Ferns are the best
known groups of Cryptogams
• Fungi, Slim molds and bacteria are also
classified as cryptogams
Cryptogam Characteristics
• Cryptogams do not bear flowers and seeds
• They reproduce through spores
• They need moist environments to survive
• Eg: yeast, Chlamidomnas, Nostoc, Ulothrix,
Spirogyra, Ferns, Mosses,…
Cryptogam Characteristics
Reproduction

• cryptogams don't have the same structures as most plants, and that their
reproductive parts are hidden.
• Well, some cryptogams only reproduce asexually, meaning they don't need
another organism to reproduce, through the use of spores.
• Still other types of cryptogams have generations that alternate between
asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction, where male and female
gametes from different organisms join together.

Habitat
• Cryptogams can live in aquatic environments, like algae, or on land; however,
those that live on land do best in shaded or humid environments.
• Most cryptogams need a moist environment to survive.
• The ferns are the only cryptogams that contain a vascular system for
transporting fluids within the organism, so the other groups need to have an
external water source to function.
Classification of Cryptogams
•Many biologist subscribe to a six (6) Kingdom system of high-level classification
Classification of Plant Kingdom
• A.W. Eichler, in 1883 proposed a system of
classification of the whole plant kingdom into two
subkingdoms:
 Cryptogamae and Phanerogamae
• Cryptogams are futher divided into three
divisions:
Thallophyta
Bryophyta
Pteridophyta
Classification of plant kingdom
Thallophyta:
• Commonly called Thallophytes

• Includes plants whose body is not


differentisted into roots, stems and leaves

• The plant body is called “Thallus”

• Thallophyta is subdivided into


Algae
 Fungi
1. Algae:
Characteristics
•They are mostly found in water or moist place
or well-lighted area

•They contain chlorophyll

•Their cell wall is made up of cellulose

•Ex: Volvox, Ulothrix, Spirogyra,…


2. Fungi:
Characteristics:

•Most are multicellular except yeast


•They grow in moist and dark places

•They lack chlorophyll

•Cell wall is made up of Chitin

•Ex: Mushroom, mucor, yeast,…


Bryophyta

•Seedless non Vascular plants


•Bryophyta are the simples land plants with
undifferentiated plant body
•They include plants such as mosses, liverworts
and hornworts

•They are found in moist, cool and shady places


•They are known as amphibian plant as they
need water for reproduction
•The plant body is leaf-life thallus except moss
•Bryophyta is divided into three phyla:
Marchantiophyta (Liverworts)
Eg: Riccia, Marchantia, etc
Anthecerophyta
eg: Antheceros
Bryophyta (Mosses)
Eg: Funaria
Pteridophyta
•They are known as
wing-plants
•Seedless vascular plants
•They are the most
advenced cryptogams
•Vascular tissues present
Pteridophyta are divided
in their body into four phyla:
•Eg: Ferns, Azola, Psilophyta-eg Psilotum
Lycophyta-eg:
Marsilea, Lycopodium, Lycopodium,
Horsetail, … Sphenophyta-Equsetum
Pteridophyta-eg: ferns
Phanerogams also called spermatophyta
•They prepare their own food
•Bear flowers of differents structures and colors and they also
bear seed
•They have well developed reproductive system

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